merrill newman was taken off the plane and held for more than a month. last night he was departed from korea. we have the latest. >> merrill newman is on his way home from north korea after being held prisoner for more than a month. >> i appreciate the tolerance that the dprk forecast has given to me to be on my way. >> the man had completed a ten-day tour of the north when agents of the communist regime of dickty -- off his flight. show showed him reading from a apparent confession. >> they killed three innocent operators, delayed the munition supplies use, please i was. >> his son said he's absolutely delighted about the announcement. you can imagine this has been a very difficult ordeal for us as a family aed particularly for him. >> tensions remain high on the korean peninsula although the north has toned down their hostile rhetoric of earlier in the year when they threatened to launch warheads. >> they said newman was released because he apologized for his alleged crimes and because of his age and medical condition. vice president biden, who is in s